Introduction
In the previous guide, you learned how to upload documents and extract data using OCR. Now it’s time to turn that raw data into something reusable — by auto-filling it into a Field Group Data.
This step is super handy when you want to save frequently used information, like customer profiles, company data, or legal contact info, so you can reuse it in future templates without retyping anything.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to use the Auto-fill with OCR button to map extracted OCR values into your Field Group. It’s quick, visual, and doesn’t require any technical setup.
Start here: Use the “Auto-fill with OCR” button
Inside the Field Group panel, just select the group you want to work with (for example: “Test”). Once it’s selected, look to the right panel called Fill Your Information. Right at the top, you’ll see a button labeled Auto-fill with OCR.
This is your shortcut to connect OCR data with your saved Field Group values.
When you click this button, a popup will appear asking you to pick a document. You can either select an OCR document that’s already uploaded or upload a new one on the spot.
Step 1: Choose an OCR document
Once you click Auto-fill with OCR, the system will ask you to select which document you want to use. These are documents you’ve already scanned and extracted text from.
If the document you need isn’t there, no problem! You can upload a new file, and Formtify will instantly run OCR on it.
After selecting the document, the system will begin analyzing the fields that were detected.
Step 2: Match OCR fields to your Field Group
After the OCR data is loaded, you’ll see a mapping screen. This is where you decide which values go where.
Each field from the OCR file will be listed on the left, and you’ll be able to choose a target field from your Field Group on the right. There will also be a preview of the detected value, so you can double-check before saving.
You might see some fields that have values, and others that don’t. Formtify organizes them clearly so you know which ones were detected and which weren’t.
You can map them one by one, or hit Match Automatically to let the system try to link them for you. This works best when the labels in OCR and Field Group are named similarly.
For example:
OCR field: “Date of Birth”
Field Group field: “Date of Birth”
→ Automatically matched ✅
If anything doesn’t match quite right, you can always adjust it manually.
Step 3: Decide which values to overwrite
If you’re filling an existing Field Group Data that already has some saved values, you’ll see a checkbox next to each field labeled Overwrite.
This gives you control:
- If you leave the box checked, the new OCR value will replace the old one.
- If you leave it unchecked, the old value will stay.
You can mix and match based on your needs. For example, maybe you want to keep the old address but update the contact name.
There’s also a small tooltip icon next to each checkbox to explain what overwrite means in case you forget.
Step 4: Confirm and save
Once you’ve finished matching and made your overwrite choices, just click Confirm.
All the values you mapped will now be saved into the selected Field Group Data. You can use this saved profile later to fill templates in just one click.
No need to redo the OCR or mapping again. It’s all stored and ready to use.
Things to keep in mind
At the moment, mapping doesn’t support array-type fields like item lists or repeated contacts. But individual fields and subfields work great.
If you’re mapping object fields or address fields, they’ll be shown in a flattened format. That means instead of nested groups, you’ll see something like:
Company.Name
Address.Street
Address.City
Representative.Phone
It’s easier to view and map this way.
You’ll also see which fields had no values extracted, so you’re not confused if something looks empty.
Done! What’s next?
Congrats — you’ve now saved your first OCR data into a reusable Field Group.
Now, whenever you fill a new document template, just choose this Field Group Data and Formtify will auto-fill everything for you. Huge time-saver.